Joe Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 402: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the plans which are available for a new industry for Mitchelstown, County Cork (details supplied). [21924/05]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I assume the Deputy is referring to the approval by Enterprise Ireland of a capital grant of €200,000 for a food enterprise centre on the Coolnanave industrial estate under its community enterprise centre 2002 scheme. A decision on funding is a day-to-day matter for Enterprise Ireland and not one in which I am directly involved.

I am informed by Enterprise Ireland that Ballyhoura Development Group, with whom it has been working on an ongoing basis towards development in the area, got approval for this new food business incubator to be co-funded through BES in December 2004 and the project is at the planning stage. When complete, the proposed 10,000 square feet facility will be able to accommodate four to five new food businesses. Initial indications suggest that strong demand exists for incubation space developed to food-related specifications. A food forum committee, of which Enterprise Ireland is a member, has been inaugurated to drive this project forward.

I am informed that following a joint initiative by Cork County Council, North Cork Enterprise Board and Mitchelstown credit union, four small advance industrial units are being provided in the Coolnanave region at a cost of €350,000 in order to facilitate the emergence of new small business. Construction commenced in August 2004 and is now completed. Advertisements for these are currently running in the local press. The financial contribution of the CEB to these units was €120,000.